HYDERABAD, May 12: The adviser to the Sindh chief minister on health, Nauman Seghal, has sought the support of the private sector in efforts against Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome.

He was speaking as chief guest at a Sars awareness seminar, organized by the EDO, health, at the Sir Cowasjee Institute of Psychiatry here on Monday.

He called upon local pharmaceutical companies to prepare anti-Sars medicines and not to wait for foreign aid.

The adviser also called for adopting measures to not only check travellers from other countries but also imported goods.

He said apart from the Ojha TB sanatorium, another quarantine facility would be provided in Karachi.

Mr Seghal said NGOs should assist the government in its efforts to improve health facilities in the province.

The assistant professor of medicine at the Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences, Dr Bikha Ram Devrajani, informed the participants that 506 people had died of Sars and around 7,053 people were infected with Sars.

The EDO, health, Dr Ashraf Bhurgari, said programmes informing the people about Sars would be organized at taluka and district-level.

REPORT: During his visit to the Hyderabad Civil Hospital, Mr Seghal directed the authorities concerned to submit him a report about the establishment of the federal-funded diagnostic and research laboratory (DRL) in the premises of the hospital.

The adviser was informed by MNAs Khalid Wahab and Ms Shamim Akhtar and MPA Aslam Pervez that tariff of tests, conducted at the DRL, was very high.

The medical superintendent of the hospital, Sharfuddin Baloch, told Mr Seghal that a former federal minister had established the laboratory for research purposes.

Mr Seghal expressed his annoyance over the absence of doctors from their wards.

Patients complained about non-availability of medicines in the hospital.

CUSTOMS: The collector of Land Customs, Rasheed Ahmed, has said that his department has formulated a policy to encourage efficient and honest officials by promoting them to the next higher rank.

He said this while speaking at a uniforms’ distribution ceremony, held at the Customs House here on Monday.

He said that at least 20 posts of Land Customs Inspectors have been created to accommodate efficient and honest upper division clerks and cashiers though competitive examinations by the end of the current month.

He said that 400 free uniforms were being distributed among the drivers, constables and Hawaldars.

Opinion

Editorial

Doctor attacked
09 Jun, 2026

Doctor attacked

AN act of reprehensible violence has shaken the medical community. On Saturday, an employee of the Provincial Civil...
AJK flare-up
Updated 09 Jun, 2026

AJK flare-up

The situation started deteriorating after a trader affiliated with the JAAC was reportedly shot in an altercation with law-enforcers.
Fault lines
09 Jun, 2026

Fault lines

THE April 8 ceasefire that halted hostilities between Israel and Iran has encountered its most serious test yet....
Soft on traders
08 Jun, 2026

Soft on traders

THE Fixed Tax Asaan Scheme for traders with an annual turnover of up to Rs200m has been designed as a ‘pragmatic...
Ceasefire in name
Updated 08 Jun, 2026

Ceasefire in name

Both sides accuse the other of violating the truce that was supposed to halt the conflict in April, yet neither appears willing to abandon negotiations altogether.
Damaged childhoods
08 Jun, 2026

Damaged childhoods

CHILD abuse is so prevalent that the UN ranked Pakistan as the least safe country for children. Even so, more than...